Three denominational stamp dispensing machine



1967 J. H. WALKER 3,358,880

THREE DENOMINATIONAL STAMP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. J4/W65 A. M4416? Dec. 19, 1967 J L R 3,358,880

THREE DENOMINATIONAL STAMP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Z4/W65 A. M41555 Dec. 19, 1967 J. H. WALKER THREE DENOMINATIONAL STAMP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 19, 1967 J. H. WALKER THREE DENOMINATIONAL STAMP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1966 i EE-..ilINUW 1/V/ll IIIIm@//////////7%- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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' Afraz/vfys' United States Patent Ofi 3,358,880 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 ice 3,358,880 THREE DENOMINATIONAL STAMP DISPENSING MACHINE James H. Walker, Los Angeles, Calif., assiguor of onehalf to Leland F. Dills and one-half to Richard W. Callaway, Arcadia, Calif.

Filed Aug. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 575,002 38 Claims. (Cl. 221-7) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE housing.

This application relates to dispensing machines and more particularly to an improved manually operated machine for dispensing strips of predetermined lengths from supply rolls of the strip material and featuring a variety of novel expedients.

The rapidly expanding interest in trading stamps has confronted merchants and sales people with vexatious problems in completing a sales transaction and issuing expeditiously and with accuracy the proper number of stamps. Additionally, the growing practice of issuing trading stamps for sales running into substantial sums of money has led to the adoption of higher value stamps to avoid the need for issuing excessive numbers of low denominational stamps. However, there has not been available prior to the present invention a compact, easily operated reliable machine capable of dispensing stamps of different values with facility and a minimum of time and effort by the sales clerk.

Accordingly, there is provided by the present invention a machine fully meeting this need and designed to issue stamps of three different denominations from three separate supply sources, as for example, stamps of ten cent, one dollar and five dollar values. The dispensing operation is under the control of two manual operators here exemplified by two concentrically arranged dials one of which controls dispensing stamps of one denomination and the other of which is operable in opposite directions to dispense stamps selectively from either of two supply rolls of different denominations depending upon the direction of dial operation. Desirably, the two dials are mounted on a common axis and include fingertip seating recesses arranged opposite appropriately marked scales enabling the operator to issue stamps for sales of substantially any amount with complete accuracy and within a time interval of a few seconds. This is accomplished by indexing the two dials through the required increments by first seating the fingertip in the proper recesses and rotating the respective dials until the finger strikes a stationary stop and then severing the stamps from the discharge opening.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved rugged and inexpensive highly-reliable and easily-serviced dispensing machine having numerous unique features.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lightweight compact dispensing machine for quickly and accurately dispensing any one or more of three continuous strips of material of different denominational units using no more than two manual operators selectively operable in a manner to control the dispensed length of any of the three strips.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stamp dispensing machine for issuing stamps of three different denominations utilizing but two manual operators.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stamp dispensing machine having a plurality of independent stamp dispensing mechanisms operable independently of one another and formed principally of molded plastic components.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simplified high-precision feeding drum for a stamp dispensing mechanism formed in one unitary part and additionally featuring a positive position locater and a positively acting lock for holding the drum against movement during the severance of the dispensed strip.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a strip dispensing machine having lock means positioned to be actuated by tensioning the dispensed end of the strip and operable thereby to lock the feeding mechanism against movement while the outer end of the strip is being detached.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stamp dispensing machine having key-operated locking means selectively manipulatable to different positions in one of which the access cover is locked closed and the stamp dispensing mechanism is unlocked and free for operation; in another of which both the cover and the stamp dispensing mechanism is locked closed and against the operation; in another of which both the cover and the stamp dispensing mechanism are unlocked.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stamp dispensing mechanism having tamper-proof means for locking the machine against removal or detachment from a supporting surface and including manual release means accessible only by unlocking and opening the machine -cover and which is operable to release the machine from attachment to a support therefor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a selector mechanism for a strip dispensing machine featuring two dial controls one of which is selectively controllable to dispense two different strips depending upon the direction of actuation and the other of which is operable to control dispensing of a third strip.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the machine ready for operation;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 22 on FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along broken line 3-3 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4 on FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a portion of the locking mechanism taken along,55 on FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along broken line 66 on FIGURE 3 and showing the position of the parts with the cover locked closed;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the dispensed stamp strip under a severing operation and the feed drum lock actuated to its locking position by the tension applied to the dispensed end of .the stamp strip;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale through the tallying mechanism and showing the drive connection to the tally temporarily held in retracted non-driving position to permit resetting of the counting wheels;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view generally similar to FIGURE 2 taken through the dispensing machine with the cover locked in open position; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 1010 on FIGURE 9 showing details of the antitampering mounting means and of the latch therefor.

Referring initially more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention dispensing machine, designated generally 10, having a housing 11 and a normally closed upwardly and rearwardly inclined cover 12 the outer face of which lies generally flush with the rim edge of the access opening 13. As is best shown in FIGURES 3 and 9, cover 12 is hinged to the main housing by a U-shaped hinge rod 14 having downturned ends 15, 15 detachably socketed in bores through lugs 16 projecting inwardly and integral with the side walls of housing 11. Inasmuch as cover 12 has its rim edge seating within the rim edge of access opening 13, as is best shown in FIGURE 2, the ends 15 of hinge member 14 cannot be withdrawn from bosses 16 when the cover is closed. However, when the cover is in its open position, as shown in FIGURE 9, the cover and hinge may be readily lifted from its seating socket in bosses 16.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, it is pointed out that the strip dispensing mechanism comprises an assembly secured as a unit by suitable fasteners, not shown, to a pair of inwardly projecting flanges extending inwardly along either lateral edge of cover 12. To this end all components of this unitary dispensing assembly are mounted on a rigid frame comprising a pair of end plates 19, 19 and a plurality of transverse shafts and spacer sleeves extending parallel to one another transversely of the machine with their ends socketed in the end plates. The interior side of the dispensing assembly is normally closed by a plastic partition 20 which includes a plurality of lugs 21 at its opposite upper ends and along its length. The end ones of these lugs are secured to flange 18 by means of L-shaped connector members 22 and bolts 23 (FIGURES 3 and 9). Partition 20 also includes L-shaped lug means 24 (FIGURE 2) which seat over one of the transverse rods 25 rigidly interconnecting the main frame end plates 19, 19. When fasteners 23 are detached, partition 20 can be lifted upwardly to disengage lugs 24 from rod 25. Among the functions of partition member 20 is the provision for the support for independent tallying devices 27, 27, 27" (FIGURE 3) arranged axially of one another in the manner best illustrated at the top of FIG- URE 3. Each of these tallying devices can be read through separate viewing windows 32 along the upper rim edge of cover 12 in the manner best made clear by FIGURES 1 and 2.

The individual strip dispensing mechanisms and tallying devices The three independent strip dispensing and tallying devices are generally similar to one another except for minor variations and a description of one will sufiice for an understanding of each. To minimize the number of reference characters required and to expedite an understanding of the components, the same or similar parts of each dispensing subassembly will be designated by the same reference character but distinguished from one another by the use of a prime and a double prime. As will be apparent from FIGURE 3, these three subassemblies are mounted in side-by-side vertical arrangement closely against the interior of cover 12 and between the main frame plates 19, 19. Each is effective to dispense a separate strip from a supply roll housed within the rear portion of the main housing, the advance ends of the separate strips discharging from the lower front edge of cover 12 through respec-- tive dispensing and severing slots 34,34, 34".

The dispensing mechanism and the associated tallying device for dispensing and counting stamps of live dollar value will now be described with reference to FIGURES 2 and 3. The five dollar unit feed drum 36 is freely supported on a shaft 37 which also supports feed roll drums 36 for the dollar unit stamps and feed roll 36' for the ten cent value stamps. Each of these feed rolls 36 is moulded in one piece from a suitable tough plastic material and includes a tubular hub 38 and the surrounding feed drum proper 39 are interconnected only at an end wall at one end of which includes a drive gear 40 as well as a ring of deep notches 41 for seating a roller detent. Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, for example, it is pointed out that roller detent 42' for feed roll 36 is mounted on an arm 42a supported by shaft 46, arm 42a being biased by a tension spring 42b to seat roller 42' firmly in notches 41. As is evident from FIGURES 6 and 7 notches 41 and detent 42' are so shaped relative to one another that roller 42 is effective to rotate drum 36' a slight amount in either direction and as necessary to stop the feed drum in a precise position wherein the transverse perforations of the stamp strip are accurately positioned for severing along the serrated edges of slot 34 in the front wall of the machine. It is also pointed out that the distance between the troughs of adjacent notches 41 corresponds with or is proportional to the distance between adjacent rows of transverse perforations of the stamp strip with the result that an exact whole number of stamps is always dispensed even though the operator may execute a dispensing stroke which is either slightly too long or slightly too short. Although the foregoing description of the feed drum positioning detent relates to the center feed drum 36 it will be understood that each feed drum has a similar positioning detent.

Referring to FIGURE 2 it is pointed out that each feed roll includes a stamp strip guide shoe 43 having an arcuate inner surface 44 embracing the lower one-third of feed roll 36 and having a supporting arm 45 rotatably supporting the guide shoe on shaft 46. Surface 44 is concentric with the outer surface of the feed roll and is spaced therefrom by a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of the stamps being dispensed thereby avoiding the possibility of applying pressure to the stamps and causing them to stick to the feed drum while in transit therepast.

Guide shoe 43 is held firmly in its normal operating position relative to feed roll 36 by a latching device, held slidingly supported along the lower outer edge of the shoe, and includes a detent 48 having a notched end embracing the upper edge of a rod 49 extending crosswise of the main frame. Latch 48 is slidable in a groove along the underside of the shoe and is urged to its latching position by a compression spring 50. This latch also includes a fixed stop member 51 forming part of the main body of the guide shoe and having one end projecting beneath stop rod 49. It will, therefore, be evident that spring 50 extends latch 48 so that its inclined forward surface engages over the top of stop rod 49 to urge the stop on the free end of the guideshoe 43 into firm seating position relative to the stop rod 49, and uniformly spaced from the surface of feed roll 36. A fingergrip 52 fixed to latch 48 permits the operator to retract the latch thereby releasing the guideshoe for pivotal movement away from feed drum 36 during servicing and threading of the stamp strip.

Another important feature of the feed roll mechanism is a locking device operated in response to tensioning of the stamp strip incident to a severing operation as the operator grasps the dispensed outer end thereof to detach it, this tensioning operation being effective to pivot the lock against the feed roll and thereby avoid any possibility that the severing operation will rotate the feed roll out of its desired indexed position. The locking device just referred to is best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 and comprises a V-shaped locking member 54 pivotally supported on rod 49. The shorter leg of an L-shaped arm 56 of locking member 54 rides against the stamp strip discharging from the downstream side of the feed roll immediately inwardly of the discharge and severing slot 34'. A light tension spring 58 is connected to locking member 54' and tends to rotate the same clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 6 and toward the normal and released position of the lock indicated in FIGURE 6 wherein the outer end of locking arm 59 is displaced from and out of locking engagement with one of notches 41'. However, the application of the slightest tension to the outer end of stamp strip 57' is effective to rotate locking member 54 counterclockwise bringing the outer end of locking arm 59' into engagement with the edge of a notch 41' with the result that the feed drum is positively locked against rotation to dispense the stamp strip. Both the upper and lower edges of the severing slots 34' are here shown as serrated to facilitate severance of the strip along the transverse line of perforations therein. Immediately that the strip is severed, spring 58' rotates locking device 54' clockwise to disengage it from a notch of the feed roll. It will be understood that each of the feed rolls includes an identical locking device for safeguarding against the operation of the feed rolls during the severing operation.

The driving mechanisms for the feed rolls The selector or manual operator for the three separate dispensing mechanisms comprises a pair of concentrically related dials including an inner smaller dial 61 and a larger outer dial 62 (FIGURE 1). These dials are mounted in an opening centrally of cover 12, smaller dial 61 being journaled on a supporting shaft having its inner end socketed in a plastic fitting 63 (FIGURE 2) clamped to a shaft 64 by a clamping screw 65. The outer end of the dial shaft is journaled in the end of a rigid stop arm 66 molded integral with the machine cover 12 and extending upwardly from the lower rim of the opening for the dials. Outer dial 62 is journaled centrally of four keepers 62a (FIGURE 3) spaced about its inner peripheral face and held in place on posts 62c by spring keepers 62d. As is made clear by FIGURE 2, dials 61 and 62 have their outer surfaces lying in a common plane generally flush with the face of cover 12. Stop arm 66 includes as a part thereof a radial flange having a sector-shaped segment 67 projecting from its lower right-hand quadrant as is best illustrated in FIGURE 1. This flange overlies the corresponding quadrant of smaller dial 61 to mask all except ten of the fingertip seating recesses 68 arranged in a continuous ring about the periphery of dial 61. A much smaller guard flange 69 (FIGURE 1) overlies and masks but a single one of the continuous ring of fingertip seating recesses 70 arranged along the rim of dial 62. Guard 69 serves as a separating barrier between the exposed fingertip recesses to the right and to the left thereof as is made evident by FIGURE 1. All those recesses 70 to the right of guard member 69 are directly opposite a particular number of the ten cent unit scale extending along the right-hand half of the larger dial whereas a similar number of fingertip openings are disposed opposite a particular number of the five dollar unit scale. It will be observed that the ten cent unit scale and the five dollar unit scale extend in the reverse order, the former being arranged counterclockwise whereas the five dollar unit scale is arranged clockwise along the lateral sides of dial 62.

It is further pointed out that recess 72 in stop member 66 is positioned to engage the operators index finger as dial 62 is rotated clockwise to dispense a selected numher or value of ten unit stamps. Likewise, stop 73 on the left-hand side of stop member 66 is similarly arranged to engage and stop the index finger as dial 62 is rotated counterclockwise to dispense the selected number of five dollar stamps. Still a third finger stop 74 is arranged to stop the index finger as dial 61 is rotated counterclockwise by the appropriate distance to dispense a selected quantity of dollar stamps.

Referring to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, it is pointed out that each of dials 61, 62 is molded in one piece from suitable plastic composition and each is formed on the rear face thereof with an annular axial flange notched along its edge to form gear teeth 76, 77 (FIGURES 2 and 3) mateable with complementally shaped gear teeth to drive connections to the respective stamp strip feeding drums 36, 36, 36". Teeth 76 of the small dial mate with gear teeth 78 (FIGURE 3), whereas teeth 77 mate with the teeth of a first gear 79 and with a second gear 80 mounted on the opposite ends of the common shaft 64. Shaft 64 is clamped rigidly to the coupling 63 supporting the inner end of the stationary shaft for dials 61, 62 and forms part of the stationary anchor end for three independent one-way clutch devices 81, 81 and 81". The out put or driven half of the clutch devices are connected directly to an associated gear, as 82, 82, 82", the latter being driven only in a predetermined direction even though each of the notched wheels 78, 79 and 80 are rotatable in either direction. Gears 82, 82' and 82" are connected to the respective feed roll drive gears 38, 38', 38" by intervening pairs of idler gears, the two outermost pairs of idler gears being mounted on end plates 19 Whereas the center pair 83', 84' are mounted on a partition 85 (FIGURE 3).

As herein shown, driven gear 82' of clutch 81' is constrained to rotate in one direction only by reason of a spring detent 86 (FIGURE 2). As herein shown, this detent comprises a small coil spring resiliently supported on a resilient extension 87 arranged along one side of partition 85 and secured thereto by bolts 88. When the clutch output gear 82 is driven counterclockwise coil 86 and its supporting arm 87 is deflected to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 2, so as not to interfere with the rotation of gear 82' and mating idler 83'. However, if an attempt is made to rotate the gear 82 clockwise, the one-way clutch coil 86 shifts to the left and between the teeth of the two gears thereby positively preventing their rotation. In this manner, inner dial 61 is prevented from rotating except in a counterclockwise direction, whereas outer dial 62 is free to rotate in either direction.

Stamp tally devices The stamp tally devices 27, 27', 27 are identical in construction and arranged in axial alignment across the top of the dispensing unit. Each tally device comprises a series of conventional counting wheels each having 10 digits one through zero arranged about its periphery in the usual manner and each arranged for rotation by one digit following each complete revolution of the preceding wheel in the line of drive. The first or digits counting wheel is driven by a gear wheel 91 (FIGURE 8) loosely supported on shaft 92 and having a hub 93 formed with one or more radial extensions 94 on its periphery mateable with a ring of notches 95 projecting inwardly from an axial flange on the first of the counting wheels 90. Extensions 94 are normally held engaged in notches 95 by a light compression spring 96 interposed between the face of member 21' and the adjacent face of drive gear 91. Drive gear 91 of the counter 27 is connected to rotate with the output gear 82 of clutch 81 through a series of intervening mated idler gears 99, 100, 101, and 102, gears 101 and 102 having a common hub and being mounted on a common supporting shaft 103.

The reason for providing the adjustable clutching connection 94, 95 between drive gear 91 and the first counting wheel of the tally device is to facilitate resetting the counter at any time. Not infrequently in servicing the machine a considerable number of stamps will be dispensed in checking the machine for proper operation. This would indicate that an excessive number of stamps has been issued to customers if the tallies were not reset. Accordingly, after the servicing operation is completed, the Serviceman can quickly and easily reset the tallying device to a desired reading such as that existing when he first started the service operation.

The selective locking facilities The described stamp dispensing machine is provided with a lock 105 (FIGURES 1 and 5) operated by key 106 and effective to lock the machine in a number of different positions and conditions. This lock is secured to a mounting bracket 106a fastened to the inner side of cover 12 and the key is operable to rotate a shaft 107 carrying a sector gear 108 on its outer end mating with a complementally shaped sector gear 109 locked to a shaft 46 by a set screw 111. Shaft 46 is the same one on which the guide shoes 43 are rotatably supported and extends crosswise of the main frame. Keyed to the opposite ends of this shaft and rotating with driven sector gear 109 are cam sectors 112, 112. A third sector 112 but without a cam-shaped outer end portion is located centrally of shaft 46 and serves in one extreme position to lock feed drum 36' against rotation.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 6 and 7, it is pointed out that key 106 is rotatable through an arc of approximately 90 degrees to swing cam member 112 between the full and dotted line positions thereof illustrated in FIGURE 6. When the key is in a first extreme position, represented by the dot-and-dash line showing of cam 112, the forward edge of the arm supporting this cam is in contact with a pin 113 projecting from the adjacent face of arm 42a supporting roller detent 42'. When so positioned, the locking device is effective to hold the roller detent 42 firmly seated in notch 41 of the stamp feed drum 36. Feed drums 36' and 36 are similarly locked against rotation with the result unauthorized persons cannot operate the machine or pilfer stamps. Accordingly under these circumstances neither of the selector dials 61, 62 can be rotated in either direction.

If the key is rotated to a position intermediate its two extreme positions, cam 112 will occupy the dot-and-dash line position shown in FIGURE 7 wherein a spring wire loop 115 having a pair of legs extending along either interior side of the housing and a bight portion extending horizontally crosswise of the housing near its bottom is held depressed to the dotted line position shown in FIG- URE 7. In this position, the bight portion of wire 115 is depressed out of notches 116 in the lower edges of main frame member 19 and is ineffective to lock housing cover 12 against outward pivotal movement. Therefore, under these conditions, the machine cover is unlocked and may be swung upwardly to its fully open servicing position illustrated in FIGURE 9. A prop member 118 pivotally connected to the main frame at 119 can then be swung backwardly and engaged with pin 120 carried by the partitions 152 forming the stamp storage cells thereby serving to prop the cover and dispensing mechanism in the servicing position. After the servicing operation has been completed the operator lifts the cover to disengage prop 118 from pin 120 and then closes the cover downwardly and latches it in closed position merely by rotating the key 106 to a position allowing wire lock 115 to spring upwardly into notches 116, as is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

When the locking key is in its other extreme position, indicated by the full line showing of cam 112 in FIG- URES 6 and 7, the cover is locked closed and the stamp dispensing mechanism is unlocked and free to rotate.

Tamper-proof mounting for the dispensing machine Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a tamper-proof mounting means for locking the machine rigidly in place on a counter or other place of use, this device being best shown in FIGURES 2, 5 and 10. Referring first to FIGURE 2, it is pointed out that a mounting plate 130 of shallow saucer shape and having an outer dimension substantially smaller than the bottom area of machine is provided with openings for receiving mounting screws 131 by which the plate may be secured to the counter. Plate -130 includes a pair of upwardly and forwardly inclined rear tabs 132 which project upwardly through openings 133 formed in the rear bottom corners of housing 11. Another pair of L-shaped tabs '134 project up through similar openings 135 in the forward interior corners of the housing bottom.

After mounting plate 130 has been secured to the counter by fasteners 131, main housing 11 is placed on top of the plate as tabs 132, 134 are inserted upwardly through the respective receiving openings 133, 135. Thereafter, a pair of latching members 137 pivotally secured to the interior of the housing bottom, as by pivot pins 138, are pivoted away from one another by means of the thumb pieces 139 until the detent portion 140 of each snugly engages beneath tabs 134 thereby rigidly locking the machine to and fully concealing mounting plate 130.

Stamp storage and feed features Individual rolls of stamps rest by gravity within cells located in the rear half of housing 11 and formed by partitions '151, 152 (FIGURES 9 and 10). The advance end of a stamp strip 57 passes upwardly and over an idler roll 154 supported in tangs molded to partition 20. The strip then passes downwardly along the rear face of this partition and about the underside of the respective stamp feed rolls. Threading the strip past the feed rolls is facilitated 'by opening the guide shoes 43 following which the strips can be inserted over the ends of the low height pins 39a protruding from the surface of feed rolls 39. These pins are preferably formed separately from the feed rolls themselves and are pressed into holes opening through the outer surface of the rolls.

Operation The operation of the described stamp dispensing machine will be quite apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the components and the several subassemblies and their operative and functional relationship to one another.

Each one of the three stamp storage cells is loaded with its own roll of stamps, the smaller denomination roll being placed in the right-hand cell, the dollar denomination being placed in the center cell, and the five dollar denomination roll in the left-hand cell. The stamp rolls require no retaining means other than the permanent stop pins 155 extending across the front of each cell (FIG- URES 9 and 10). The strips are fed upwardly from the upper rear side of each roll and threaded over idlers 154 and into the underside of the individual feed rolls in the manner just described. This operation is performed while the cover is propped in its raised position by strut 118 in which position the feed rollers are fully exposed when the individual guide shoes 43, 43', 43" are unlatched and swung downwardly to open position. Once the simple threading operation has been completed the shoes are pressed upwardly until they snap closed with the stamp strips feeding over the top side of the tension-sensing arms 56, 56', 56" of locking members 54, 54, 54".

Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7 it is also pointed out that dispensing of the strips from the feed rolls is facilitated by the peeling action of a stripper shoe comprising a thin plate of plastic material 157 held in place opposite the forward side of the feed rolls by interlocking action with the crosspin 158 and (with the adjacent face of the rolls themselves. To this end, the arcuate inner edge of this stripper shoe is seated in one or more shallow grooves 159 opening through the outer surface of each feed drum. This stripper plate may be formed of nylon or other similar material and rides loosely in this groove and has its lower edge shaped to strip the stamp strip from the pins on the individual feed rolls and facilitating the advance of the strip outwardly through the severing devices 34, 34', '34".

Let it be assumed that the operator has made a sale of $26.20 and wishes to dispense an equivalent value of trading stamps to the customer. Normally, the sales clerk would start with the larger denomination and dispense five five-dollar stamps. This is done by placing the index fingertip in the opening 70 of the larger dial opposite the numeral 25 of the left-hand scale indicating $25 worth of stamps and then indexing dial 62 counterclockwise until the finger stops against stop recess 73. As the dial rotates, teeth 77 on the rim of the outer dial engage gear teeth 79 thereby engaging one-way clutch 81 to drive its output gear 82 along with idler gears 83, 84. These in turn drive gear 40 of the five-dollar dispensing feed drum 36 to advance exactly five stamps from slot 34. It is immaterial whether dial 62 is operated a little in excess of the proper amount or slightly short of the normal full stroke since roller detent 42 and its associated spring 45 cooperate with notches 41 in the feed roll to center the latter exactly in the proper stop position with the perforations of the fifth stamp exactly opposite the severing teeth of slot 34.

The next operation is to place the index finger in the opening of inner dial 61 opposite the one dollar indicia, and then to index this dial counterclockwise by one increment until the finger contacts stop 74. Next the operator place her finger in the opening 70 of outer dial 62 directly opposite the twenty-cent indicia along the right-hand margin of the dial and then indexes this dial clockwise until finger. engages stop 72. In each of these instances, the respective dispensing rolls 35', 36" operate in exactly the same manner as described above with respect to feed roll 36 to dispense a single one'dollar stamp and two ten-cent stamps through slots 34, 34", respectively. The final operation is to grasp each of the dispensed strips of stamps and to pull the same either upwardly or downwardly against the severing edges of the slots. As these operations take place the slight tension placed on each strip serves to lock the respective stamp roll locking members 54, 54, 54" into the nearest notch 41 to lock each of the feed rolls positively against rotation for the brief interval required to sever each strip from the main supply. As final severance occurs the associated springs for the locking devices rotate them back to further normal unlocked positions.

As each denomination of stamps is dispensed, the associated one of the tallying devices is rotated by the drive connections described above to tally the number of stamps dispensed from each of the three supply rolls. Accordingly, at the end of each clerks tour of duty a reading can be taken on each tallying device to show the amount of sales transacted and the number of stamps of each denomination dispensed.

While the particular three denominational stamp dispensing machine herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understod that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stamp dispensing device for dispensing a predetermined number of stamps selectively from a plurality of stamp supply strips, said dispensing device having means rotatably supporting first and second dials; first, second and third stamp dispensing mechanisms; drive connection means between said first dial and said first stamp dispensing mechanism operable to dispense a predetermined number of stamps as said first dial is rotated through a corresponding number of increments; and drive connection means between said second dial and said second and third stamp dispensing mechanisms selectively operable in response to the direction of rotation thereof to drive a particular one only of said second and third stamp dispensing mechanisms.

2. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of means operatively associated with said first dial to prevent rotation thereof in one direction.

3. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said first dial is mounted concentrically of said second dial.

4. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 3 characterized in the provision of a plurality of stationary stamp value scales for each of said dials including a first stamp value scale supported along an arc inwardly of the rim portion of said first dial, a second stamp value scale arranged clockwise outwardly of and along the left-hand side of said second dial, and a third stamp value scale arranged counterclockwise outwardly of and along the right-hand side of said second dial.

5. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that at least one of said samp dispensing mechanisms includes movably supported locking means positioned to be engaged by a strip of stamps and movable by the tensioning of the dispensed end of a stamp strip as an incident to the detachment thereof from the nondispensed portion of the stamp supply to lock said dispensing mechanism against movement in a direction to dispense stamps.

6. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 5 characterized in that said locking means includes means holding the same normally retracted and ineffective to prevent operation of said one strip dispensing mechanism.

7. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 6 characterized in that said locking means is effective as tension is applied to the dispensed end of a stamp strip to lock said dispensing mechanism against either forward or backward movement.

8. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 6 characterized in that said stamp dispensing mechanisms each include cooperating sets of roller and roller detent means operable in response to the manual rotation of either one of said first and second dials to dispense stamps to rotate the associated one of said stamp mechanisms forwardly or backwardly through a small arc if necessary to position accurately a whole number of stamps for severance from the remainder of said stamp supply.

9. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said first and second dials include an annular ring of gear teeth fixed to the rear side thereof and forming part of said drive connection means to two different ones of said stamp dispensing mechanisms.

10. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said first and second dials are formed principally of molded plastic material and include an integral axially-extending annular flange formed with teeth engaged with complementally shaped teeth of a rotary gear forming a part of said drive connection with said stamp dispensing mechanisms.

11. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 10 characterized in that said drive connections include a common shaft extending diametrically of said first and second dials and providing a common support for a plurality of rotary gears in mesh with the flanged rings of said first and second dials.

12. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 11 characterized in that first and second dials are mounted concentrically on a common axis, means supporting the outer end of said last mentioned shaft from said housing, and means anchoring the inner end of dial supporting shaft on the common shaft extending diametrically of said first and second dials.

13. In combination, a stamp dispensing device having a main housing including a cover pivotally supported thereon, a unitary stamp dispensing assembly mounted on the interior side of said cover forwardly of a stamp storage space within said housing, means for supporting said cover in open position with the stamp storage space accessible for servicing, said dispensing assembly including stamp strip feeding mechanism which is positioned substantially entirely outside said housing with the components thereof disposed conveniently for :access and servicing when said cover and the unitary stamp dispens- 1 1 ing assembly mounted thereon are supported in open position.

14. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 13 characterized in that said housing cover is normally closed and inclined upwardly and rearwardly across the front face of said housing and pivoted thereto on a transverse axis near the top edge of said cover, and said stamp storage space being in the rear lower portion of said housing.

15. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 14 characterized in the provision of key-operated lock means for said cover having three different positions including a first fully-released position in which said stamp feeding mechanism and said cover are both released to permit opening of said cover and operation of the feeding mechanism to facilitate servicing thereof, a second fully locked position in which said cover is locked closed and said stamp feeding mechanism is locked against operation to dispense stamps, and a third position wherein said cover is locked closed and said stamp feeding mechanism is unlocked and free to dispense stamps.

16. A stamp dispensing device as characterized in the provision of hinge means pivotally connecting said cover to said housing, and said hinge means having its ends socketed in support means therefor mounted interiorly of said housing and being liftable therefrom when said cover is swung to open position whereby said cover and said unitary stamp dispensing assembly can be quickly detached as a unit in case of malfunctioning and quickly replaced with a properly functioning replacement assembly.

17. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 13 and characterized in the provision of anti-tamper means for mounting said stamp dispensing device on a support therefor, said anti-tamper means including mounting means rigidly securable to said support inwardly of the perimeter of the bottom portion of said housing and including tab means projecting upwardly through openings in said housing bottom, and locking devices secured to the interior of said housing and positioned to interlock with said tab means thereby to lock said housing immovably to said mounting means.

18. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 17 characterized in that said cover is engageable with said locking devices in the closed position of said cover to hold said locking devices in closed position against said tab means.

19. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 18 characterized in that said locking devices are positioned closely adjacent the forward edge of the cover opening for said housing and readily accessible for release when said cover is open.

26'. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 13 characterized in that said stamp storage space includes means providing a plurality of stamp roll receiving cells in the lower rear corner of said housing and wherein the individual stamp supply rolls rest by gravity action, and stop means across the forward edge of said cells to hold the supply rolls loosely in storage position therein and free to rotate as tension is applied to the free end of the stamp strip.

21. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 20 characterized in the provision of partition means inwardly of and carried by said cover and generally parallel thereto and serving to separate said stamp storage space from said stamp dispensing mechanism, and roller means near the upper rear face of said partition means for supporting the stamp strips from the several supply rolls so that tension applied to said strips acts to peel the strip from the roll adjacent the horizontal diameter of the roll.

22. A unitary stamp dispensing assembly having a rigid main frame including three plate members held in spacedapart parallel relation by means including a first and a second fixed shaft; first, second and third stamp feed roll means mounted for individual rotation on said first shaft;

defined in claim 13 first and third one way clutch means mounted for individual actuation on said second shaft and having separate drive connections with said first and second stamp feeding roll means, respectively; and means on said second shaft operable to drive said second roll means in one direction only.

23. A stamp dispensing assembly as defined in claim 22 characterized in the provision of separate stamp strip guide shoe means for the respective feed roll means, said guide shoe :means underlying the underside of the associated one of said feed roll means and having one end thereof pivoted to said rigid main frame, and cooperating stop and latch means adjacent the opposite end of said guide shoe means effective to hold the latter normally in closed position with the interior face thereof closely spaced from said stamp feed roll means by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the stamp strip to be dispensed.

24. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 23 characterized in that said stamp feed roll means includes means for advancing the same by a predetermined increment corresponding to a Whole number of stamps during each operation thereof, and lock means normally biased to unlocked position and having means thereon in contact with a stamp strip being dispensed by said feed roll means as tension is applied to the dispensed end of the strip to lock said feed roll means against rotation.

25. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 23 characterized in the provision of manually actuated lock means operable when rotated to one position thereof to lock each of said feed roll means against operation.

26. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 23 characterized in the provision of third fixed shaft means supported by said main frame and parallel to said first and second shafts, and separate gear means mounted on said third shaft means in mesh with said first and third one-way clutch means and with the drive means for said second feed roll means for driving separate stamp tally means for said first, second and third feed roll means.

27. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 22 characterized in the provision of cover means secured to the remotely positioned plate members of said main frame and having a large diameter circular opening therein, first and second concentric dial means rotatably supported in said opening and having toothed circular flanges projecting from the rear rim edges thereof, the diametrically spaced portions of the toothed flange of said larger dial being in mesh with a toothed gear fixed to said rst and third one-way clutches and the toothed flange of said second dial being in mesh with a toothed gear driving said second stamp feed roll means, the rotation of said larger dial in opposite directions being effective to drive a different one of said first and third stamp feed roll means, and the rotation of said second dial in a particular direction being effective to drive said second stamp feed roll means in a desired stamp feeding direction.

28. A stamp dispensing device as defined in claim 27 characterized in the provision of stop means fixed to said cover and extending radially upwardly from the lower end of the dial opening in said cover, and shaft means for said first and second dials having the outer end thereof journaled in said stop means and its inner end supported on the midportion of said second shaft.

29. In combination, rotary feed roll means for dispensing a continuous strip of stamps connected together by transverse rows of perforations, drive means for said fed roll means operable to drive the same to dispense a preselected number of stamps past severing means for the dispensed end of the stamp strip, and lock means movably supported beside the stamp strip and movable thereby as tension is applied to the dispensed end thereof to sever the stamp strip and effective to move said locking means into a position positively locking said feed 13 roll means against rotation by the tension applied to the outer end of the stamp strip thereby to safeguard against movement of said feed roll means during a stamp severing operation.

30. The combination as defined in claim 29 characterized in that said stamp severing means is disposed closely adjacent either face of said stamp strip to facilitate severing the dispensed end of the strip either upwardly or downwardly against said severing means, and said locking means being operable to lock said feed roll means irrespective of whether said strip is severed in an upwardly or a downwardly-acting severing operation.

31. In combination with apparatus for dispensing a continuous strip of stamps or the like interconnected by transverse rows of perforations, strip feeding mechanism for feeding said continuous strip in a predetermined direction and including a rotatable feed drum molded in one integral piece from plastic material, said feed drum including a cylindrical hub portion and a concentric drum portion closed at one end by a drive gear and a notched ring, and said feed drum having at least two circular rows of uniformly spaced pins protruding from the outer surface thereof and adapted to enter perforations of a strip of material intended to be dispensed over said feed drum.

32. The combination defined in claim 31 characterized in that said feed drum has a narrow outwardly-opening groove therein adapted to seat the inner edge of a camming member and effective to underride a stamp strip seated over said pins and to cam the advance end of the strip off the pins.

33. In combination with apparatus for dispensing a continuous strip of stamps or the like interconnected by transverse rows of perforations, strip feeding mechanism for feeding said continuous strip in a predetermined direction and including a rotatable feed drum, drive means for rotating said feed drum to dispense a pre-selected whole number of stamps, stamp counting means geared to said feed drum drive means for tallying the number of stamps dispensed by said feed drum and including a series of separate counting wheels mounted on a common shaft and each rotatable by a tenth of a revolution for each complete revolution by the immediate preceding one of said counting wheels, and a fast-action manuallyoperable disconnect clutch between said tally drive connection and the closest adjacent one of said counting wheels to expedite digital resetting of said counting wheels to any desired value without need for disassembly of any component and without need for tools.

34. The combination defined in claim 33 characterized in that said stamp counting means, including said counting wheels and the drive means therefor, are molded from nonmetallic plastic material.

35. The combination defined in claim 33 characterized in that said stamp feed drum and the drive therefor are formed from nonmetallic plastic material.

36. A stamp dispensing machine comprising a main housing having a main access opening, stamp dispensing mechanism concealed within said opening, a cover normally closing said access opening, a mounting plate for said machine adapted to underlie the bottom thereof and having fastener openings for securing said plate to a counter or the like and so positioned as to be concealed and to be rendered inaccessible when said machine is secured to said mounting plate, tabs projecting upwardly from said mounting plate and through openings in the bottom of the machine housing, and means within said housing accessible through the cover thereof when in open position and movable into and out of locking en gagement with at least certain of said tabs to lock the dispensing machine detachably to said mounting plate.

37. The combination defined in claim 36 characterized in that said stamp dispensing mechanism is mounted against the interior side of said cover and is rendered accessible for servicing when said cover is in open position.

38. The combination defined in claim 37 characterized in that said cover includes hinge means having a telescopic quick-disconnect with the interior of said housing when said cover is in open position, and means carried by said housing holding said telescopic disconnect against disassembly so long as said cover is in closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,581,323 1/1952 Gottschau.

2,740,581 4/1956 Komusin 1942 2,878,014 3/1959 Zeigle et al 226-11 2,974,772 3/1961 Zeigle et a1. 133-2 X STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STAMP DISPENSING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF STAMPS SELECTIVELY FROM A PLURALITY OF STAMP SUPPLY STRIPS, SAID DISPENSING DEVICE HAVING MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING FIRST AND SECOND DIALS; FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD STAMP DISPENSING MECHANISMS; DRIVE CONNECTION MEANS BETWEEN SAID FIRST DIAL AND SAID FIRST STAMP DISPENSING MECHANISM OPERABLE TO DISPENSE A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF STAMPS AS SAID FIRST DIAL IS ROTATED THROUGH A CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF INCREMENTS; AND DRIVE CONNECTION MEANS BETWEEN SAID SECOND DIAL AND SAID SECOND AND THIRD STAMP DISPENSING MECHANISMS SELECTIVELY OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION THEREOF TO DRIVE A PARTICULAR ONE ONLY OF SAID SECOND AND THIRD STAMP DISPENSING MECHANISMS. 